By the end of his story, her hand was covering his on the table, and she was captivated by his every word.
“Wow, you’re so amazing,” Carmen said once he finished. “What you’ve done with your life, the changes that you made . . . not a lot of people would have been able to do that.”
Bran blushed and shook his head, and the way they were looking at each other almost made me feel like a voyeur.
“I have to be honest, I was totally freaked out during our date as well,” she admitted. “I worked myself into a frenzy worrying about it for days . . . I tend to do that, get so anxious over something that it effects my sleep, my work, everything . . . I liked you so much, and worried that I’d never measure up to the type of woman that I thought you deserved. So, I bungled the entire date . . . I’m sorry.”
“Sounds like we bungled it together,” Bran said kindly, then turned his hand under hers so that he was holding on and asked, “Liked . . . as in past tense?”
I squirmed, starting to feel a little uncomfortable.
His tone was low, intimate, and his thumb was stroking her hand softly, sensually.
I cleared my throat, but they were too caught up in each other to notice.
“No, not past tense,” Carmen said with a shy smile. “I still like you. I’d like to get to know you better.”
“Can I make you dinner tonight?” Bran asked.
“I’d like that,” she replied, beaming.
“Okay, well, I have to get going and I think you guys are good here, so . . .”
I stood up, grabbed my coffee and waited for their response.
“Bye,” Bran said.
“Thanks, Lila, I’ll call you later,” Carmen added, but neither could tear their eyes off of the other.
Well, all righty then, mission success.
I TOOK RUFUS with me to Cade’s cabin. It was his old stomping grounds, after all, and I knew he was missing Cade, so I thought maybe he’d like to go run around the yard while I looked things over.
My fears had been correct, so I called a landscaping company to come out and mow, weed eat, and clean up the area around the house, and down where we’d be getting married. Next week, a man Cade had hired would be coming by to set up the wedding arbor that he’d made, and the rental company would be bringing the tables and chairs, so I needed space cleared out and cleaned up.
After doing a sweep of the inside of the cabin, I made a note in my calendar to come back on Sunday with my cleaning supplies to give the place a good scrub down before Cade’s family arrived.
Once that was done, I took Rufus back to my place, gave CB some I’m sorry we left you behind rubs and gave them each a bone, and then took off for town.
I had a few minutes before my dress fitting, so I decided to look in on Amy May and see how she was feeling. I found her in the same spot I’d left her in yesterday, the only difference was her clothes.
“Still not feeling good?” I asked as I approached the loveseat in her office.
She shook her head pitifully.
“The suckers didn’t help?” I asked. I’d looked all over and had eventually found them at the maternity store in the mall.
“No,” Amy May moaned. “Jason made me some ginger tea last night, but that didn’t help either. I don’t think this baby likes ginger.”
“Maybe you should talk to your doctor,” I suggested.
I’d had morning sickness with the twins, but I don’t remember being laid out all day like Amy May.
“They can’t do anything, I just have to ride it out.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. I hated seeing her that way.
“Mmmhhhmm.”
“Do you need me to do anything for you today?”
She shook her head.
“Cynthia’s computer’s back up, so she emailed the order for tomorrow, and Jordan is at the storefront right now . . . but, thanks.”
“Anytime, lady, you know that. All you have to do is ask,” I told her.
“I know. Don’t you have a dress appointment?” she asked, closing her eyes.
“Yeah, I’m headed there now. You call or text if you need anything, okay? And, I still think you should call your doctor, or at least go home. These guys can cover the shop for you.”
I left her after getting her to promise she’d call the doctor if her misery continued and went to the bridal shop.
“Perfect,” the seamstress said as I turned to look in the mirror.
And she was right, it fit perfectly.
“Wow,” I managed, my eyes filling. “It’s even more beautiful that I remember.”
She gave me a pleased smile and said she would have it steamed and ready for me to pick up next week.
As I was walking to my van, I took out my phone and shot off a text to Cade. I knew he said he wouldn’t be checking his phone and would be radio silent until his job was done, but I really needed to contact him. Even if I wouldn’t get a response.
I sat in my driver’s seat and told him about the dress, about Amy May’s pregnancy and morning sickness, and that his mother had been trying to call. I reminded him about his family and friend’s arrival times next week, the last-minute things we have to do, and that the wedding would be here before we know it.
Finally, I ended by telling him how much I missed him, loved him, and couldn’t wait to be his wife.
I was wiping tears off my cheeks when my phone rang in my lap.
I picked it up quickly, thinking maybe Cade had received my text and decided to break the silence, but the screen told me it was Bea calling.
“Hey,” I said in greeting as I answered.
“Everything okay?” she asked, immediately catching on to my tone.
I sighed.
“Yeah, just missing Cade. What’s up?”
“Just wondering if you can talk Eric into watching the kids this weekend. I know he had them last weekend, but . . .”
“I’m sure he won’t mind, and if he and Mary have plans, I can probably work something out with their friends, why? What’s up?” Then I thought back to the group text that no one had ever replied to and asked, “Are we finally having a night out?”
“Well, yeah, the best kind of night out,” she replied vaguely.
“What do you mean the best kind? A night out is always good,” I said, confused. Then I realized what she was talking about and added, “I thought I said no shower, Bea. You know I feel weird since it’s my second wedding and we shouldn’t make a big deal about it. I’m doing the dress and ceremony for Cade, but we don’t need presents or anything like that.”
“Not a shower,” Bea replied. “Better.”
It took me a minute, but in my defense, I was in a bit of a funk, and therefore slow.
“A bachelorette party?” I asked, getting excited.
I didn’t need a silly shower with games and presents, but I was always down for a night of debauchery.
“You got it,” Bea said with a laugh.
“Yes! Don’t worry, I’ll find a place for the kids even if it’s the local animal shelter,” I replied excitedly, then said, “Just kidding,” because, she was a cop after all, and I shouldn’t joke about abandoning my kids.
Still . . . bachelorette party, whoop!
I PULLED MY hair up in a ponytail, the curls spilling out wildly. My face was done up for a night out, which meant I’d filled in my eyebrows, had on a thick application of mascara, and even wore lipstick.
I was in black. Black skinny jeans, with a low-cut black top, and a black sweater, just in case I needed it.
Sure, I knew things wouldn’t get too crazy, we were in Greenswood, after all . . . not a strip club in sight, at least, not a male strip club. Still, it was a night out with the girls celebrating my last few days as an unmarried woman.
With Cade out of town and my kids with their dad, I was ready to turn things up and get a little nuts.
Bea had picked me up, claiming her role as DD for the night, so I was free to drink until I puked,
if I so desired. Not that I really wanted to puke, but, after the last few weeks, I was definitely ready to let loose and imbibe.
“Yay, Tapas,” I’d cried when Bea pulled into my favorite Tapas bar in The Heights.
We went in and back to their private room, where Amy May, Carmen, Cynthia, Clarice, and Shannon were all waiting.
“Let’s get this party started,” I called as I danced into the room, over the moon to have them all there.
I gave everyone hugs and thanked them for coming, and as the server came in to take everyone’s drink orders, I sidled up to Amy May and asked, “How are you feeling, hon?”
Cause, honestly, she looked pretty rough.
She tried to give me a smile, but it turned out more like a grimace.
“Good,” she lied. When I gave her my yeah, right look, she shrugged and said, “Okay, maybe not good, but better.”
“Awe, I appreciate you coming, babe, but I’ll totally understand if you don’t want to stay. I don’t want you to be miserable.”
“I’ll stay for the apps and see how I feel,” Amy May said and I nodded.
“Okay, but let me know if you need anything,” I told her, then went up to the server and said, “I’ll have a margarita, and can I get a round of tequila shots for everyone but the pretty blonde in the polka dot dress?”
The server went off to put in the order, and I moved to where Carmen and Cynthia were talking.
“Hey, I’m so happy you came,” I told Cynthia, then turned to Carmen and asked, “And, you. I’ve been waiting to hear back from you . . .”
Carmen flushed prettily and Cynthia gave a tinkly laugh.
“You mean from when she and that tall hunk of man lingered in my shop, all wrapped up in each other? I swear, we could have had an earthquake, and those two still wouldn’t have been able to take their eyes off of each other.”
I clapped my hands together.
“Things are going well, then?” I asked Carmen.
She nodded and said, “So good it scares me.”
“Oh no, don’t start that again. You guys deserve each other. No cold feet allowed. Did he end up making you dinner?”
Carmen looked embarrassed, but her answering smile told me all I needed to know.
“I like that look,” Cynthia said and I elbowed her jokingly in the side and added in a loud whisper, “I’m thinking he gave her more than dinner.”
Carmen blushed and chided, “Lila.”
“What?” I asked with mock innocence, then followed her gaze to see Bran had just walked in. “Whoops . . . I’m sure he didn’t hear me,” I assured her, but Carmen looked like she was about to expire on the spot.
I went to him and gave him a hug.
“Hey, Bran,” I said happily.
“I hope it’s okay that I came,” he said, looking around the room at the women. “Bea invited me.”
“Of course. You don’t have to have a vagina to attend my bachelorette party,” I said with a grin. He shook his head at me and smiled back. “You’re welcome to drink and feast with us.”
He nodded, then looked over my shoulder at Carmen.
“Go ahead, go see her. Want me to order you a drink?” I asked.
“Maker’s neat. Thanks.”
Bran went to Carmen as the server came back into the room with the tray of drinks.
“Mmmm, thanks,” I said, taking my margarita. “You can just put the shots on the table. Oh, and can the gentleman get a Maker’s neat, please?”
I set my drink down and passed out the shots to everyone except Amy May and Bea, then raised the glass and said, “I love you guys and I appreciate you all coming. Let’s feast and get shitty.”
Everyone laughed and we threw back our drinks, then found our seats so that we could put in a food order. I was sandwiched between Amy May and Bea, who was sitting next to Shannon, and across from Carmen, Bran, Cynthia, and Clarice. It was a small enough group that I didn’t feel like I was leaving anyone out, which was perfect.
Amy May stayed through the apps and long enough to get a couple orders of enchiladas to go for her and Jason, then she left us and Cynthia came over to sit next to me.
We enjoyed apps, the main meal, and dessert, plus plenty of drinks.
It was a great night with lots of laughter and great people, and as I watched Shannon and Bea together, and the budding relationship between Bran and Carmen, I couldn’t wait until next weekend when I would marry Cade and get to claim him as mine for the rest of my days.
Sure, I’d been married before and knew first hand that marriage didn’t always last, but I knew marriage to Cade would be different.
I felt it in my bones.
“OH GOD,” I groaned as my eyes fluttered open, then back shut. “Too bright.”
I tried to cover my face with a pillow, then the blanket, but neither would budge and each movement hurt my head.
I cracked one eye open and saw that both Rufus and CB had taken over my bed.
Rufus was sprawled out on his back, sideways across the bed, and CB was laying up by my head, using the pillows as his perch.
“Tequila is no bueno,” I told them as I pulled back the covers on my side and exposed my nearly naked form to the morning.
Where are my clothes?
I searched my memory, but all I came up with was the ride back in Bea’s car, and bitching at her for making me go home and not taking me out to another club.
I padded to the bathroom, hand on my head, and found last night’s outfit in a pile on the floor by the sink. The sink looked to have remnants of a late-night puking session, gross, so I turned on the water and did my best to clean it out without puking all over again. Then I turned on the water for the shower and peered at myself in the mirror.
Damn, I looked pitiful.
After I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth, I took off my bra and underwear and stepped under the steaming hot spray.
Ten minutes later, I felt marginally better, but still pretty shitty. I got dressed, left my hair to air dry, and went to make myself some much-needed coffee.
I was downstairs, pouring coffee down my throat, when there was a knock on my front door.
I walked as fast as I could, which was pretty damn slow since every step hurt my head, then unlocked and opened the door to see Bea standing on my doorstep. She was in uniform, holding two cups of coffee.
“You’re an angel,” I said, taking a cup from her and stepping aside so she could come in.
“How are you feeling this morning?” she asked and I grimaced.
“Been better.”
“I hate to do this, but are you busy right now?”
The tone of her voice had me looking up.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t want to freak you out,” she said, and I immediately started freaking out. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“What’s nothing?” I asked, watching my friend closely.
Of course, she gave nothing away.
“I got called out early this morning. There was an explosion outside of town.”
“An explosion?”
Bea nodded sharply.
“A car exploded off of old Snellville road, by the gas station.”
“Holy crap,” I began. “What does that have to do with me?”
“When we got out there, it wasn’t just the car on fire, there was a motorcycle, too. Cade’s motorcycle.”
“Cade’s motorcycle was on fire?” I asked, shaking my head. “I don’t understand. Was he there, is he hurt?”
“No, no one was hurt. There was no one at the scene by the time we got there. I came straight here after leaving the site. I’m going to head back out to the gas station once it opens back up, talk to the owner, see if anyone saw anything. I probably shouldn’t do this, but I thought maybe you’d want to come.”
“Let me grab my purse,” I said, already walking away from her to do so.
My mind was spinning during the drive out to the gas station.
/> Cade had been gone for two weeks . . . Why was his bike on fire just outside of town? Was he back? Had something happened? Why hadn’t he called?
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Bea said in her cop voice, which I knew meant she wasn’t sure of anything. If she knew he was fine, she’d be talking to me in her friend voice, not using the tone she used on victims so they wouldn’t freak out.
I bit my lower lip and contemplated calling Slade, Cade’s VP.
It wasn’t something I’d do unless there was an emergency, but, this was an emergency, right?
“Let’s find out more before we figure out what to do next, okay?” Bea added, as if she’d read my mind.
I nodded, unable to speak. Not just because of my pounding head, but because my heart was in my throat.
We got to the dilapidated gas station, and any hope that there was some sort of video camera or security camera fled. I brought my gaze to Bea, who tried to give me a reassuring look, but failed and we got out of the cruiser.
“Let me do the talking,” she said, which was fine with me, because I seemed to be completely numb anyway.
The old guy behind the counter was wearing a blue button up that said Bubba. His hair was greased back and his lower lip was protruding with what I assumed was a lump of dip.
“What can I do fer ya?” he asked, picking up a plastic bottle and spitting in it.
“We’re here about the explosion and fire that happened just off your property.”
The man scowled.
“It’s that damn MC, always causing trouble around here . . .”
“The MC that owns Custom Motorcycles and Service?” Bea asked, writing in her little notebook.
“Nah, not those guys, they do good work,” he argued. “I’m talking about the other one.”
“Other one?” Bea asked, looking at me.
I shook my head. I hadn’t heard of another MC in this area.
“Yeah, they’ve been slowly moving down from up north, taking over the south side. They’re not on the up and up like the mechanics, these guys are bad news.”
“I don’t suppose you have a name, or any footage from what happened here last night.”
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